Convertible body for vehicles, and particularly for motor vehicles



Jan. 11, 1938. l G. A. PAULIN 2,105,293

CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR VEHICLES, AND PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 11, 1934 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 AVE/4%)? Jan. 11, 1938 s. A. PAULIN 2,105,293

' CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR' VBHICL ES, AND PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 11, 1934 f5 sneets-sheetf2 Jim} 11, 1938. I aA. PAULIN CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR YEHICLES, AND PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 11, 1934 5 Sheets- Shet s Jan. 11,1938,

G. A. PAULVIN CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR 'vEB'IcLEs, AND PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 11, 1954 G. A. PAULIN 2,105,293 CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR VEHICLES, AND PARTICULARLY, FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 'Jan. 11, 1938.

Fiied Jan. 11,. 19s4 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 11, 193s e e, M e has; I e h. I 1 CONVERTIBLE BODY i on vnnrcnns, AND e ran'rrcmannyronuo'ronvnmcms "Georges Panlin. mason, a...

v mama-mash, m. l f

France January 1am:

present invention relates to improvements in convertible bodies ,for ,vehiclesjcharacterized in that the movableportion of the car body, con'-.

.stitutedby the roof and thesideportions rigid V with; this roof forming a rigid unit, is movable in translation inorder to be withdrawn within a meptacle or spider placed atthe rear of the car .The accompanying drawings, given by way of lolexample only, illustrate some forms of construction n qconvertible body according m t [inventionh m a m. 1, is s a anis sateen, treat having a convertible body, and shows aformof construction of the control forthe shaft actuating-the various parts. H I a Fig.2 2 is a detail sectional viewishowing a nrst formiof-construction of the parts for actuating wtheccverofthe spider andior stowing awaythe movable portionof the carbody. 3 i i Fig.,3,is a perspective viewof thevehicle seen fromthe rear, thecover of the spider being removed.

y a Fig. 4 is a detailtview, onan enlarged scale,

yportionoi the car-body, i e H H i,

Fig. 518 a section of. a constructional'modiilca tion of the members for actuating the (cover of the spider and for stowing, away the movable p t of h a q a i I i i Fig.6:is a partialside view of Fig. 5 seen from therear. e l a J l Fig.3. isa detail view of the actuating device comprising a gapped chain and illustrated in Fig. dis a perspective view;,of another form of construction of thedevice controlling .the actu ,ation of the movable portion of the carbody, the shockabsorbing device being-removed. 5 H

a Fig. 9is a longitudinalsectionthereof. e n a Fig. 10 is a perspectiveview of a constructional ,modiflcation of the form of 'constructibnillustr ated in Figs, 8 and 9. I f

Fig. 11 is a sectional view thereof. i i Fig. 12 is a diagram of the electricfconnections. In theforrn of construction illustrated in Figs. i 1;, 2, 3, and 4, the movable portion l of the car body comprises thereof proper, as well as the o side portions 2 andf therear portion} situated above the bodyproper 4 of the'car body. The spideror rear receptacle 5 isnormally closed by a covert pivoted about a shaft I parallel to the axis of the axlespfthe vehicle. The cover 6 is ss lifted by means oftwo series of links arranged on the sides of the cover. The link Sis pivotally .connected, onthe one hand, at 9, to thecover 6 and, on the, other hand, to the end in of another supported by bearings I 3 attached to the longishowing the'device for controlling the actuation of the cover of the spider-and of the movable I link II which isangularlysecured on a shaft sprint a an ed abouti'the shaft I, on which thejspider cover is pivoted or I! are loosely mounted on pins secured on lugs i! rigid with-the re r part} or the withdrawable portion 1 of thecar body and are so arranged as to, respectively roll on the upper and lower faces of theguide inclines l8 and I1. These inclines "It and 11 have corresponding profiles so designed that the withdrawable portion I of the car body moves intoth'e spider ll of the veghicle. The relative position of the various rollers Itudinal mean or the of the vehicle for instance.

. at any otherfsuitable place (on the pivot pins of the links for instance) tend to move, the cover I downinorder'toclose thespider.' Side guide; "inclines ii and centralguide'incllnes l'l secured to the car body I andto the longitudinaiitf bearers ll of the, vehicle for instance. g Rollers II respectively rolling on the side and central inclines II and l|,.is such that this movable porticn fl is at every-movement perfectly guided and held withoutriskof rocking. Abutments can be provided at the end of the displacement for supporting the movable portion when it is in positionin the spider, so asto prevent this movable portion from being supported solely by the guide inclinesii'and lltwhen the vehicle isrunning. Abutments li aremoreover provided at the lower end of the inclines l6 and I! for the rollers I 3., The withdrawable portion I of thecar body is moved for instance by means of a chain rendered rigid with said'movable portion I and moving parallel to the tracks. 20

is guided by rollers or pinions 2i loosely mounted on spindles secured to the central guide inclines l1. fihischain Ill meshes with a pinion 22 rigid with a toothed pinion 23 which meshes with a toothed segment 24movable on a shaft 25 journailed in suitable, brackets or bearings supported by the chassis or other fixed part of the vehicle,

, A sprocket wheel 20, rigid with a toothed segment 24, is driven by a chain 21 the ends of which are attached, in' the example illustrated, to the ends of cables 28. These cables are guided by rollers 29 and their displacement is controlled by any suitable means. For instance, the free ends of t the cable are attached to a chain 30 meshing Y with a pinion 3i rotatively driven through the medium of a crank 33 and of a worm and worm wheel gearing down device 34. Use could also be made of an electricgmotor or of the engine of the car utilizing a reversing gear and moreover,

when theengine of the car is used, a suitable clutch. I

A toothed pinion32 is rigidly secured on the shaft l2 actuating, the links lifting the cover,

this pinion 32 meshing with the toothed segment 24. Assuming the toothed segment isin gear ,with the pinion32, as shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that if, as indicated above, the toothed Y rotation of the shaft I2 and, consequently, of

segment 24 is caused to rotatethrough a sumcient amplitude A B for determining a suitable the links 8 and II, the cover 8 lifts and opens the spider 5. During this first movement and owing to the arrangement of the toothed segment 24, the pinion 23 is not rotatively driven and, consequently, the movable portion I of the car body remains in position. At e end of this movement, the toothed segment ion 28. During the second movement having an amplitude B C, this pinion 28 is rotatively driven and, as explained above, it causes the movable portion I to be withdrawn within the spider 5. At the end of this movement, the toothed segment 24 again comes in engagement with the pinion 28 and a rotation of this segment having amplitude CD=AB causes the spider to be closed. The links 8 and I I move to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, if it is assumed that they were at the beginning in the position indicated in full lines. A rotation of the toothed segment 24 in the reverse direction, causes a similar operation: opening of the spider, replacing of the movable portion I in position on the car body, closing of the spider.

In the form of construction of the control device illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and '1, the principle of the device remains the same, alone the arrangement and the mode of actuation of the various members are different. The shaft I2 controlling the movement of the cover 8 of the spider 5 is placed near the end of this cover, or, in other words, at the upper part of the spider 5. The arrangement of the links 8 and II remains the same as previously, with the exception that the length of the links is greater for an equal lift of the cover 8. The sprocket wheel' 28 is loosed on the shaft 28a carrying the pinion 22 in engagement with the chain 28 actuating the movable portion I. Each of the shafts I2 and 23a carry threepinions (85, 88, and 81 for the shafts I2, 88, 88, and 48 for the shaft 28a, arranged opposite each other). The pinions 85, 81, 88, and 40 are loosely mounted on their respective shafts, but the pinion 88 is rendered rigid with the sprocket-wheel 28; the pinions 88 and 89 are secured on the shafts I2 and 23a, respectively. On both these series of pinions is mounted a chain 4 I, the middle stretch or length of which, in engagement with the pinions 88 and 88, is gapped so that it is in engagement at any moment with but one of these pinions (Fig. '7). When the pinion 38 is driven through the medium of the sprocket wheel 28 in the direction of the arrow .1, it drives the chain H which causes the pinion 88 to rotate through a suificient amplitude for causing the cover 8 of the spider to lift;

the chain 4I then comes in engagement with the pinion 88 which it actuates for determining the displacement of the movable portion of the car body, then it again actuates the pinion 88 for these parts are duplicated on the other side of I the car. I

Two rigid levers 48 and H arerespectively pivoted on theone hand, at 42 and 48, on the side eshes with thepinwall 2 of the roof and, on the other hand, to a fixed point 44 of the car body and about a shaft 45. The points 42, 43, 44, and 45 constitute the apices of a four-bar motion. In case the displacement of the roof is a geometrical translation, thisrfour-bar motion becomes a. parallel motion, but, in practice, and owing to the shape and arrangement of the spider, it is necessary that the roof should slightly rock backwards (the word translation" being taken in a broader sense than its purely geometrical sense), so that the points 42, 48, 44 and 45 must be slightly displaced relatively to the apices of the parallel motion.

A pivot pin 48 is secured on the lever 4I at an intermediate point thereof, and on this pivot pin is loosely mounted a toothed pinion 41 rigid with a sprocket wheel 48. The toothed pinion 41 meshes with a fixed toothed segment 49. A sprocket wheel 58, rigidly secured on the end of the shaft 45, rotatively drives, through the medium of a chain 5I, the sprocket wheel 48 and, consequently, the pinion 41. On the shaft 45 is rigidly secured'a worm wheel 52 meshing with a worm 53 fast on the shaft of an electric motor 54 mounted on a cross member 55 of the vehicle frame for instance.

A shock absorbing device is mounted between apoint 58 situated on one of the levers and a fixed point 51 of the car body or other fixed part. This shock absorbing device is constituted by a cylinder 58 pivoted at 58 on the lever 4|,and in which moves a piston 58 the rod 80 of which is pivoted at a fixed point 51. A spring 8| is interposed between the piston 58 and the rear head 82 of the cylinder adjacent to the pivot point 51. It will be seen that, in this manner, when the roof is: either in position on the car body as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, or within the spider as shown in dot and dash lines in this figure, the

spring 8| is compressed and, consequently, tends to promote the displacement of said roof at the beginning'of the movement.

The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows: the motor 54 can rotate in both directions and a suitable control device is provided for controlling this direction of rotation according to the position of the movable roof I. Assuming the roof is'in position on the car body, the motor is started for driving the shaft 45 in the direction of the arrow 1, the sprocket wheel 48 rotates in the same direction and it will be seen that the lever 4I rotates in a clockwise direction, actuating the roof I in order to insert it in the spider.

By causing the motor 54 to rotate in the reverse direction, the movable roof is restored on to the car body. It is obvious that the device for automatically reversing the direction of displacement at the extreme positions can be of any type githout departing from the -scope of the inven- In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the displacement of the roof is also obtained by means of levers 48 and H the pivot points 42, 44 and .48, 45 of which constitute the apices of a. four-bar motion. But, in this form of construction, one of the groups of levers comprises a single lever H which is arranged in the transverse axis of the movable part I and the operating means act on this single lever. These operating means are constituted by a screwthreaded spindle 85, which can rotate but is prevented from axially moving. This screw-threaded spindle 55 passes through a nut 86 pivotally mounted on themedian lever H. The spindle 85 75 is mounted, through .themedium of a Cardan joint 61, at the end of a shaft, 58, on the other end'of which a sprocket wheel 89 isEkeyed; This trio motor 14 having two windings and, 93,

through the medium of a magnetic lclutch I5. C i The electric motor 14 rotating in both directions, controls, on the one hand, through the medium of a magnetic clutch "and of a speed,

reducing device, 11,, a toothed pinion I8 meshing with a toothed wheel 18, This wheel 19 is rigidly secured on a shaft 80. This shaft 80, which extends throughout' the width of the car body, carries, at each of itsends,a crank plateQone of which canibe constituted, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, by the toothed wheel 'l9. ,Each of theseflcrank plates carries a crank pin .8l to" whichispivotally connected a link 82, the [other end of which is \pivotally' connected to the end of a lever pivoted at 84 on the body proper 4 of the car body. The other end of the lever 83 is pivotally connected *to the cover 6 ofjthe spider through the medium of ,a link 85. A manual, reverser {86 and three automatic reversers 81, 88 and 89 are provided for automatically effecting the following successive operations, it being assumedfthat the motor is rotating in the suitable direction: t t

1. Lifting of the cover 6 of the spider 5 by putting the magnetic clutch 16 in action and puttingthe magnetic clutch 15 out of action.

2. Insertion of the movable portion l of the roof into the spider 5 by putting the magnetic Clutch [6 out of actionand putting the magnetic 4, Automatic openingof the circuit feedingthe electricmotor l4 and changing the connectio ns of the circuit of this motor for causing it to rotate, in reverse direction during the following working cycle which will occur when the user will again close the circuit feeding said motor I4. This new working cycle, produces the same operations as in the previous case, with the exception that the insertion of the movable portion I into the spider. is replaced'by the displacement of this movable portion I from the spider r on to the body 4 of thevehicle.

Anembodiment ofthese electric circuits is 11- lustrated, by way of example, in Fig 12 in which the same reference number'designates the same partsas in Figs. 10 and 11. Theautomatic re verser 81, or general end reverser, changes the direction of rotation of the motor" by closing. by means of relay 90-or 9|, either of the circuits of the inductors S2 and 93,. the operation of-the reversertaking place at the end of the closing movement of the cover 5. of the spider. This reverser 81 is in series across the two circuits extion manual reverser 8B, the other contact piece of which is connected to the positive pole "of a source ofcurrent supply 94. W

The reversers 88 and, are both in series across, the two circuits connected in parallel of the magnetic clutches l5 and ,16, these two circuits being controlled, on the otherhand, by a contact 96 actuated by an electromagnet the winding of which is in shunt atthe terminals erates.

of the armature of the motor 14', so that the contact is closedwhenth'emotor l4 rotates.

The reverser 88 operates at the end of the opening movement of the cover 8 of the spider,

whilst the reverser operates at the end of the displacement of the movable portion i of the car body. t, q,-

Assuming the car is covered by the movable portion I, the followingoperations are eflected:

(f) Closing of the spider, the reverser '81 op- The letters indicated on the diagram corre'- spond totthe position of the reversers during the operations mentioned above and indicated by the same letters.

f It is obvious that this diagram has been given only by way of example; the operation of the automatic reversers can be controlled eitherfrom the shafts controlling the movement of the cover of the spider and the movement of the movable portion I of the carbody, or fromthe movable members themselves.

In the various forms of construction, resilient devices can be provided for checking the move-' ment of the movable portion I when it is inserted into the spider 5, these resilient devices assisting the movement when the movable portion i is reset in positionlon the body proper I of the car body, as shown in particular in Fig. 9.

Suitable locking devices, of known type,can be provided-for securing the movableportion l of the car body to the posts of the front glass plate for instance and, in case said movable portion I is actuated by means of an electric motor, a switch for controlling the circuit of said motor is combined with thesefsecuring means in order to avoid any faulty operation and to automatically open the circuit of the motor when these locking devices are inaction; said switch (not shown) will be connected in series for instance to the circuit of the manual reverserBB between the latter and the source of current supply 94.

- Stress limiting" devices can also be provided on the control members in order to avoid breaking the same in case of faulty operation.

Suitable devices for ensuring fiuidetightness are provided in order to avoid any admission of water at the joints between the movable portion l and the body proper! of the car body for instance. t

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis': tendingfrom the contact pieces of the two-direc- 1; In a vehicle having a movable rigid roof capable of being withdrawn within a receptacle or spider formed in the fixed part of the car body and provided with acover closing the said spider when the vehicle is hooded or unhooded, in'combination, two firstlinks arranged on each side, of the said roof, a second link arranged in the transverse axis of the said roof, these links being pivoted on the one hand to the said roof and on the other hand to the fixed part of the car body, the four pivots of the two first links and of the second link constituting the apices of a four-bar motion, a nut articulated to the said second link, a screw axially moving and engaging in the said nut, first'means for rotating the said screw and second means for operating the said cover when it is desiredto insert the root in the bination, two first links arranged on each side of the said roof, a second link arranged in the transverse axis of the said roof, these links being pivoted on the one hand to the said-roof and on the other hand to the fixed part of the car body, the four pivots of the two first links and of the second link constituting the apices of a tour-bar motion, a nut articulated to the said second link, a screw axially moving and engaging in the said nut, first means for rotating the said screw and second means for operating the said cover of the spider when it is desired to insert the roof in the said spider or when it is desired to remove it therefrom, an electric motor having two windings actuating the said means and magnetic clutches actuated separately so that the said motor actuates the first or the second means, the said clutches being automatically controlled by the said-roof and the said cover of'the spider.

3. In a vehicle, in combination, a chassis, a body thereon, a movable rigid root of a single piece for the body, a receptacle at the rear of the body and also supported by the chassis, means within the receptacle for constantly supporting and guiding the roof body bodily in a vertically curved path from an upright position on top of the body to a lowered but substantially upright position within the receptacle or vice versa, and means for actuating said supporting and guiding means.

4. In a vehicle, in combination a chassis, a body thereon, amovable rigid roof of a single piece for the body, a receptacle at the rear of the body and also supported by the chassis, a cover pivoted to the lower end of the receptacle for normally closing the receptacle, means within the receptacle for constantly supporting and guiding the roof body bodily in a vertically curved path from an upright position on top of the body to a lowered but substantially upright position within the receptacle or vice versa, means for swingably connecting the lower edge of the cover to the lower part of the receptacle so that it may be swung to an open or closed position, main operating means, and control means actuated by the operating means and associated with the rooi supporting means and the cover swinging means for simultaneously operating both of the latter means in timed relation with respect to each other.

'5. In a vehicle, in combination a chassis, a body thereon, a movable rigid roof constructed in a single piece for association with the body, a receptacle at the rear of the body, an operative connection within the receptacle andbetween the rigid roof and the receptacle for constantly supporting and guiding the'roof bodily in a vertically curved path irbm its normal upright posisaid spider or when it is desired to remove ittion on top or the body to a lowered but substantially upright position within the receptacle or vice versa, and a cover for normally closing the receptacle and mounted so as to be raised and lowered during the insertion and removal of the roof with respect to the receptacle.

'6. In a vehicle having a movable rigid roof of a single piece capable of being withdrawn within areceptacle or spider formed in the fixed part of the car body andprqvided with a cover closing the said spider when the vehicle is hooded or unhooded, in combination, two groups of two links arrangedon each side of the said roof, the two links of each group being pivoted on the one hand to the said roof and on the other hand to the said fixed part of the car body, the four pivots constituting the apices of a four-bar motion, means for causing the rotation of at least one link of each of the groups, means for operating the said cover of the spider when it is desired to insert the roof in the said spider or when it is desired to remove it therefrom, main drive means, and control means operated by the main drive means and operatively connected with both of said operating means -for actuating said means synchronously.

'I. In a vehicle having a movable rigid roof capable of being withdrawn within a receptacle or spider formed in the fixed part of the car body and provided with a cover closing the said spider when the vehicle is hooded or unhooded, in combination, two groups of two links arranged on each side of the said roof, the two links of each group being pivoted on the one hand to the said roof and on the other hand to the said fixed part of the car body, the four pivots constituting the apices of a four-bar motion, a pivot rigid with a link of each group of two links, a toothed pinion loosely mounted on the said pivot, a first pinion with chain rigid with the said toothed pinion, a second pinion with chain, a chain connecting the said pinions with chain, an electric motor driving said second pinion with chain, a toothed segment rigid with the fixed part of the car body and with which meshes the said toothed pinion, means for operating the said cover of the spider when it is desired to insert the roof in the said spider or when it is desired to remove it therefrom, the said means being controlled from the same source of power.

8. In a vehicle having a movable rigid root of a single piece capable of being withdrawn within a receptacle or spider formed in the fixed part of the car body and provided with a cover closing the said spider when the vehicle is hooded or unhooded, in combination, two first links arranged on each side of the said rooi, a second link arranged in the transverse axis of the said roof, these links being pivoted on the one hand to the said roof and on the other hand to the fixed part of the car body, the four pivots of the two first links and oi the second link constituting the apices of a four-bar motion, means for causing the rotation 01' the said second link, means for operating the said cover of the spider when it is desired to insert the root in the said spider or when it is desired to remove it therefrom, main drive means, and control means actuated by the drive means and operatively connected with the operating means for the roof and the cover for operating the root and the cover synchronously.

GEORGES AUGUSTE PAULIN. 

